China Photograph Albums, ca. 1900-1912

Processed by Edward C. Fields

Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library

University of California

Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010

Phone: (805) 893-3062

Fax: (805) 893-5749

URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/special-collections/

Guide to the China Photograph Albums, ca. 1900-1912

Collection number: Bernath Mss 160

Department of Special Collections

Davidson Library

University of California, Santa Barbara

Processed by:: Ed Fields
Date Completed:: Feb. 7, 2007
Latest revision:: June 20, 2012
Encoded by:: D. Gartrell, A. Demeter

Title: China Photograph Albums

Dates: ca. 1900-1912

Collection number: Bernath Mss 160

Extent: .4 linear feet (2 oversize boxes)

Repository: University of California, Santa Barbara. Library. Dept. of Special Collections

Santa Barbara, CA 93106

Abstract: These three photo albums show various aspects of Chinese life, society and political events at the turn of the century from the perspective of members of western military units (presumably German) stationed in China during the Boxer Rebellion and its aftermath. Most of the photographs were taken in Peking (Beijing) and Tientsin (Tianjin).

Physical location: Del Sur Oversize.

Languages: English, German

Access Restrictions

None.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

Preferred Citation

China Photograph Albums. Bernath Mss 160. Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Acquisition Information

Purchase, 2005.

Scope and Content of Collection

These three photo albums show various aspects of Chinese life, society and political events at the turn of the century from the perspective of members western military units (presumably German) stationed in China during the Boxer Rebellion and its aftermath. Most of the Chinese photographs were taken in Peking (Beijing) and Tientsin (Tianjin).

The first album is titled (in English) "Views of the Chinese Insurrection of 1900." It contains 48 photos (45 mounted in the album, many hand-tinted, plus 3 loose black and white photos). There are captions in English for the mounted photos most of which are scenes from various locales in Peking as well as others showing the activities of military personnel. Scenes (from the captions) include:

"Tee Wang Tower and French Garrison"
"The Interior of the Palace Howo, Peking"
"Chon Yau Gate (destroyed by bullets)"
"Sho-Ching and Wang-Foo, Peking"
"French Staff Officers, Peking"
"The Western Gate of Yui-Ho Bridge, Peking"
"The Garrison of the American Army, Uoo-Men"
"The Defence in Front of English Legation, Peking"
"Coal Hill from the Palace, Peking"
"Eerang-Ten, Emperor was imprisoned in this Temple"
"General von Hopfner (and officers)"
"American General (and officers)"
"The Tientsin Station after the War"
"English Legion, Peking"
"The Japanese, Mt. Wan-Sho, Peking"
"The Japanese Legation (destroyed by bullets)"
"Chinese Soldiers trained by English"
"American, Indian, and Annamese Soldiers"
"The Encampment of the Russian Army, Peking"
"Japanese Legation, Peking"

The second album "Peking-Tientsin at the Time of the Boxer Rebellion," (ca. 1900-1901) contains 42 photographs (black and white with some hand-tinted) showing various scenes from the above locales with (randomly) numbered captions in English. Caption titles include:

"Tannanmon, Peking"
"Burnt Street by Boxers, Peking"
"Street of Pekin"
"Palace of Peking"
"View of Tientsi"
"Gate of Palace, Peking"
"Chinese Singing Girls"
"Nanhai, Peking"

The third album (ca. 1904-1912) is divided into two parts. The first part contains 42 black and white photos that record the service of a German officer in China. Some of these have handwritten comments (in German): "Lunch with the military Mandarin," "Street scenery in Yangtsun," "Tactical horse riding, 1904." The second part of the album contains 173 additional photos (1904-1912) which show family scenes and the records of various trips (some captioned with names of German locales and dates) as well as several unidentified voyages via ship. There are also several shots of cavalry officers and a parade.

There is no container list for this collection.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

China -- Pictorial works.

China -- History -- Boxer Rebellion, 1899-1901.

Germany -- Pictorial works.

Related Collections

Far East Photograph Albums, ca. 1900-1901. One album, hand colored photos, of Japan (temples and other scenes), some with printed captions, and one album with 34 images from China and Japan, many with handwritten captions. Images from China include European/Western soldiers, ca. time of the Boxer Rebellion. (Wyles Mss 57).

Selfridge / China Photograph Albums, ca. 1890s-1900. Two photograph albums of scenes in China, including Shanghai, Peking, and Tientsin [Tianjin], apparently from the period preceding and during the Boxer Rebellion. Includes snapshots and picture postcards. (Wyles Mss 56).